Integrative Computational Analysis of TP53 Exon 5–6 Mutations in Oral Cavity, Prostate, and Breast Cancers in a Senegalese Population

TL;DR

This study examines TP53 gene mutations in different cancers among a Senegalese population, revealing cancer-specific mutation patterns and their structural and functional impacts.

Contribution

The study provides the first integrative computational analysis of TP53 exon 5–6 mutations in oral cavity, prostate, and breast cancers in a Senegalese population.

Findings

Breast cancer showed the highest TP53 mutation frequency and exon 6 mutations were enriched in breast cancer.

Exon 5 mutations were destabilizing and associated with loss-of-function effects, while exon 6 mutations in prostate and breast cancers were stabilizing.

All analyzed mutations were predicted to stabilize the p53–BCL-2 interaction, suggesting potential oncogenic implications.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The tumor suppressor gene TP53 is one of the most frequently mutated genes in human cancers, with alterations predominantly affecting its DNA-binding domain (DBD). However, the mutational landscape and functional consequences of TP53 variants remain poorly characterized in African populations. This study aimed to characterize mutations in exons 5–6 of TP53 in oral cavity cancer (OCC), prostate cancer (PC), and breast cancer (BC) in a Senegalese population, and to assess their structural effects, functional consequences, and impact on protein–protein interactions with BCL-2. Methods: Seventy-eight archived tumor DNA samples from Senegalese patients with OCC, PC, and BC were analyzed. Variants were annotated using COSMIC and dbSNP databases. Functional impact was evaluated with PolyPhen-2. Structural stability changes (ΔΔG) were predicted using FoldX, conformational dynamics (ΔΔSvib) were assessed with ENCoM, and effects on the p53–BCL-2 interaction were analyzed using DDMut-PPI. Statistical analyses were also performed. Results: BC exhibited the highest TP53 mutation frequency, whereas OCC showed greater mutational diversity. Exon-level analysis revealed a significant enrichment of exon 6 mutations in BC. Structural analyses indicated that exon 5 mutations across all cancers and mutations in OCC were predominantly destabilizing and associated with loss-of-function effects. In contrast, recurrent exon 6 mutations in PC and BC, particularly V217L and V218M, were predicted to stabilize the p53 structure. Conformational dynamics differences between exons were significant only in PC. All analyzed mutations were predicted to stabilize the p53–BCL-2 interaction. Conclusions: This integrative in silico study identified cancer and exon-specific TP53 mutation patterns in a Senegalese population, highlighting exon 6 as a context-dependent hotspot with potential oncogenic implication in PC and BC. Despite its computational nature, the study provides valuable insights that merit further investigation.

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